What’s in My Bag?

Pretty quickly after moving to San Francisco, I realized I needed to change my purse situation. I have carried a large Coach purse for years and years. I could put everything I owned into the two I have, but they aren’t convenient for the city.

Everyone carries a backpack here, literally everyone. I haven’t carried a backpack for at least 14 years, but I decided to go shopping for one a couple weeks into carrying my giant purse to and from work and the store.

I found this one at DSW and decided it was the one for me. It is slightly more stylish than the backpack I carried in school, holds everything I need it to, and is canvas so it is easily cleaned. If you haven’t carried a backpack in a while, you may want to reconsider. Now that my arms and hands are free and the weight is evenly distributed, I’m not sure I would go back to purse life.

I carry the same things every day. Surprisingly, I think I used to carry more when I carried a purse. There were some days my purse would turn on the passenger seatbelt in my car. I have to leave room in my backpack for my breakfast or lunch for work, or quick grocery store runs.

Let’s get the essentials out of the way first. I always have my car keys and the key card to enter my office building with me.

I also always have a hair brush. This one is pretty small, but because I walk everywhere and it is so windy, this thing is my most used item.

I have this on me at all times. From Bart to bus rides, everything is dirty. I buy a bunch of these when they are on crazy sale every year. They also make good additions to gifts for secret Santa, or a coworker you don’t know that well, or a teacher.

I subscribed to Ipsy Glam Bags for years. I have a tote bag filled with these little bags in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I use this one for gift cards, receipts I need to keep, in store coupons, ect.

This is actually on the light side for lip products for me. I had just cleaned my backpack out a few days ago. I have two colored glosses (Bougainvillea and Pink Sand) to throw on when I’m not wearing a lip color. I have Glossy Gloss and Lip Balm in every room and every bag I carry. Aaron uses the lip balm and I use the Glossy Gloss over every color, or alone to moisturize my lips.

This is my all-time favorite perfume. I like the roller ball because I can carry it with me. If I have an impromptu after work event, or dinner date with Aaron I can re-apply.

I have two different wallets that both live in my backpack. I use the small silver one if I just need my ID and a debit card. I can throw it in my pocket and run out the door. The brown one holds all my cards, some cash (not that I ever have any), my phone, and a lip gloss. I use this one more often and carry it around my wrist.

I always have gum. I chew it instead of eating chocolate after meals, at least I try to.

My trusty Simplified Planner. I love it and use it every day. I use my phone for my daily work appointments, but I use the planner for all non-work things and big work events. I feel like once I write things down in the planner they are real things. I also love how well made and simple this planner is.

Some days I will bring my laptop home from work, so I throw that in the back pocket. I always have my headphones and a phone charger with me. Google Maps is a lifesaver in a new place, so I need to make sure my phone doesn’t die. I usually have a second pair of headphones too because Apple hasn’t developed a converter that makes my apple headphones usable in a laptop yet. Can someone get on that?

What do you carry in your bag everyday? Is it similar to what is in mine?